Amber heat-health alerts issued for most of England as temperatures could reach 36C or higher this week – latest updates

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>The upgraded alerts will be in place from 9am on Tuesday until 6pm on Wednesday</p><p>There is no single definition for a drought, but one way of describing it is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.</p><p>The Environment Agency defines three main types of drought, which can occur separately or together. They are:</p><p><strong>Agricultural drought</strong>: when there isn’t enough rainfall and moisture in soils to support crop production or farming practices.</p><p><strong>Environmental drought</strong>: when lack of rainfall has a negative impact on the environment and ecology.</p><p><strong>Water supply drought</strong>: when a lack of rainfall leads to concerns from water companies about supplies for their customers.</p><p><strong>East Anglia</strong></p><p><strong>Hertfordshire and London</strong></p><p><strong>Thames Valley</strong></p><p><strong>Hampshire and the Isle of Wight</strong></p><p><strong>Devon and Cornwall</strong></p><p><strong>The West Midlands</strong></p><p><strong>Wessex</strong> (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire)</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/aug/10/england-drought-declared-another-summer-heatwave-hot-weather-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.